Friday, September 6, 2013

Damaged In the Storms

We are often warned of impending
storms along the Atlantic Costal areas of North America. It is one of those
zones where weather can quickly gather itself into a real northeaster and blow
the stuffing out of any area in its path. In my youth I saw pictures of the
effects of hurricanes that wrought their devastation on coastal communities in
Shelburne County and other parts of Nova Scotia. It is fascinating for sure to
watch the coming clouds and a bit scary feel the fast changes in atmospheric
pressure caused by the moving weather fronts. In our area people rush to the
shorelines to watch the wave action turn from gentle swells to crashing surges of
destruction as the power of the storm alters both geological and geographical
markers. And then there are those who just venture too close and are injured or
killed, not realizing the ferocity of nature at its worst.

I would like to think that we
would all remain safe and out of harm’s way, during the storms. Of course, not
all storms are due to atmospheric upheaval. There are those little things that
just happen in life and are due to either circumstance beyond our control or on
the other hand, are out of lack or watchfulness or just plain stupidity. Can
you imagine the truth of some of the commercials we watch on TV these days?
Insurance ads are sometimes the most curious, alarming and in the deepest sense
of dark truth, funny to say the least. Picture; a man walks towards his car to
go to work and a huge overhanging limb from a nearby tree drops directly on the
vehicle and crushes it completely…. Scan over and upward… we see a man who has
just cut the limb with a bow-saw, looking very stupid. Makes you glad you have
insurance those days. Of course insurance companies and assurance companies
bank on our fear of the unknown and what might happen to fleece us, while
covering their cost of expenses to cover
payouts for someone else’s mishaps. Ah
the joy of the insurance schemes afoot in our society. But that is another
digression… it happens a lot lately. Note to self… keep your eye on the ball.
Ha!

It doesn’t take long as the
storms arrive, for us to get the first news of real damages; the heartache of
flooding, evacuations, loss of real-estate, and the cost of repairs and
rebuilding mount to astronomical figures. For those in the midst of the trauma
the reality is theirs, they lay claim to the disaster because for them it is
now life, being lived, whether they wanted it this way or not. Physical
disasters come in all forms, not just in high winds and torrential rains. The
mental and physiological pain of storms in life can take its toll too!

Pan left or right…. Look up from
the focus on trying to live with your own moments and see what is around you. It
can be both enlightening and upsetting, but it is due to other storms that we
have little or no control over in life. Each Sunday we have a time to mention
the names of loved ones or acquaintances who we feel need prayer in their
lives. In one small country Church family the number of names is outstanding…
and then there are those in our midst… the hurting ones who are the victims of
their own storms where wind and rain have no blame… it is the thing of life…
the everyday news of someone else who health problems and may be facing the
worst. Every day, perhaps because I am who I am people speak of their struggles
and look to me for both consolation and more to the point prayer. The
interesting part of all this is that they may not be people of prayer
themselves, but they recognize that here is someone who must be connected and
maybe, just maybe, they can connect on their behalf, for needs not faced and
voiced in panic and fear. It can be an awesome responsibility and yet that is
part of our response to storms… to be doers and not just hearers.

I guess not all storms are huge,
like my friend ( we will call her Nellie) who has heard that she has bone
cancer or the myriad of people who suddenly find themselves alone as their
loved ones are snatched form their midst in death. Some are just the everyday
garden variety of arthritic joints, the gastro reflux which has become so
popular as we eat more, exercise less and go off the limits of good diets…
maybe it is perhaps just, I don’t know… more chemicals in our foods that are
causing upset tummies. Ah shoot… I am digressing… pinch me will you! We all
suffer the small stuff in life. It may seem like a big thing while it is
happening, but for the most part survival is not in question… it may just seem
that way. For us here in the local household it has been a scary moment with a
medical test and a recall for a closer analysis, a step into a deep hole that
twisted an ankle and knee on the same leg, putting me in misery for over a
month just trying to stand up, much less sleep at night. Oh by the way… all
this at the same time… strange eh!... and the needs of others still remained
constant… and the calls came in.

The doctors said; “All clear” for
the medical and our hearts beat a little slower as calm swept in once more.
Another said; “well if you were able to get up and walk and not feel the
greatest extent of the pain for a week then the damage was minor… as in no
broken bones, just stretched ligaments and muscles and that will heal
eventually.” Again a deep sigh of relief. But the pain remains. It is part of
the collateral damages that come with storms. Our hearts may ache due to the
twinges of guilt for not having more faith; after all why do we get scared and
upset when storms come? Can God not keep us through the storms of life?
Lingering pain from injury can be damaging too, as we wonder why the miraculous
does not seem to be a contemporary element which could immediately change the
course of life daily. It seems that we echo the sentiments of those in Jesus’
time who cried; “Show us a sign Lord!” While there may be some argument today
over the absence or presence of miracles, I am a firm believer that God is
still that whom He has always been, a God of love, justice and creation (which
of course includes His watchful care over that creation).

So today if you are suffering
storm damages, you need not buy more insurance … just consider a bit more
assurance. We are not alone, even when we feel we are. That is human nature at
work and there is no need for guilt, otherwise our Savour’s agony in the garden
is for not. When facing the storms, we go through the myriad of emotions and
there is no way around it… we forge ahead and try to keep our hearts and heads intact.
Look up today, if you are not one of the damaged… or even if you are. Who
around you is one of the damaged ones, who may need a bit of your touch, the
Master’s touch through you? Take a moment and walk even closer to the edge… it
may surprise you what you will find there… a peace that the world knows not… it
may be that you might need a new perspective while standing there. Blessed
today I pray and take a moment to bless others.